ALABAMA NOTEBOOK: Julio should be ready for Hogs

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama receiver Julio Jones of Foley was in uniform Saturday but did not play in a 53-7 victory over North Texas while nursing a badly bruised kneecap.

His status is expected to change this week against Arkansas.

“Julio can probably play in this next game,” coach Nick Saban said.

Jones hurt his right knee early in last weekend’s victory against Florida International, missing most of that game and most of this past week’s practice drills.

While Jones dressed and stood on the sideline, senior tailback Roy Upchurch was not in uniform Saturday with a high ankle sprain.

Saban said Upchurch is “probably about 80 to 85 percent” after a week of rest.

“If he continues to respond,” Saban said, “maybe he can (play against Arkansas) too.”

OLD FRIENDS: Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy took time after the final whistle to visit on the field with North Texas coach Todd Dodge and son Riley Dodge, the Mean Green’s injured starting quarterback.

The elder Dodge was McElroy’s coach at Southlake Carroll High in Texas, while Riley was McElroy’s former teammate.

“It was a different experience for me,” McElroy said, “seeing him and talking to him and to hear him tell me how proud he was of me was a really good feeling.”

STEEL JAW: McElroy said he got popped in the jaw when he dove to recover a fumble on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

“They told me to keep ice on it the next couple of days,” McElroy said.

It was the lone turnover of the game, and it occurred when McElroy was blindsided during his throwing motion by defensive end Sam Owusu-Hemeng. Both sides were slow to react for a moment — thinking it was an incomplete pass — before North Texas’ Brandon Akpunku beat a charging McElroy to the loose ball.

Replay officials scanned the play and ruled it a fumble.

“We all heard a whistle,” Crimson Tide right tackle Drew Davis said. “We believe there was a whistle. That’s why we stopped. I don’t know why there was a fumble. But we didn’t hustle after it because there was a whistle blowing.”

KICKOFF COVERAGE: The kickoff coverage team that Saban initially sent onto the field Saturday was the same one that allowed a touchdown against Florida International, making two in two weeks.

Though there was improvement for much of the North Texas game, Alabama still allowed a 65-yard return that was nullified by a block-in-the-back penalty.

“We have not kept the ball in front of us. Our safeties have not been in the right position. We’ve not leveled out coverage right. We’ve not been in our lanes correctly. ... When people ask, ‘Why don’t you make personnel changes?’ I have all the confidence that the guys that are doing it can do it if they’d just do it right.”

BIG-PLAY JAVY: Alabama’s Javier Arenas averaged 22.5 yards on four attempts Saturday, but despite appearing close at several points never broke one for more than 36 yards.

Counting a 61-yard kickoff return, Arenas totaled 151 return yards for the day. But he still is waiting for his first touchdown return of the season.

“When I’m running, the guys, they just pop out of the ground,” Arenas said with a smile. “I don’t know what that’s all about.”

(Press-Register/Bill Starling) Alabama running back Demetrius Goode (6) carries the ball during the second half of their game against North Texas Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. GOODE UPDATE: Reserve tailback Demetrius Goode hyper-extended his left knee on his first and only carry of the game, a 14-yard burst in the second half.

He limped off the field after the game with ice on the back of his knee, though Saban said of Goode, “I think he’ll be OK.”

STILL NO HARRIS: Linebacker Jerrell Harris missed his third consecutive game while ineligible because of a UA investigation into possible impermissible benefits received by the sophomore. The school has yet to announce an NCAA ruling on the matter.

Harris was present on Alabama’s sideline but not in uniform.

NUMBER CHANGE: Punter P.J. Fitzgerald wore jersey No. 7 for the North Texas game instead of his usual No. 97. The reason was because Lorenzo Washington, a defensive player who wears the same number, had worked this past week with the field goal team, of which Fitzgerald is the holder.

Freshman receiver Kenny Bell, who also wears the No. 7, was not in uniform Saturday because of injury.

EMPTY BENCH: A total of 65 Alabama players got into Saturday’s game, including receivers Mike Bowman and former UMS-Wright standout Brandon Gibson, each of whom hauled in a first collegiate catch.